A time for mourning, a time for fundraising

Updated 1:06 am, Friday, July 27, 2012

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Larry Lowak, left, and Sue Greene, parents of Brent Lowak, speaks at the Children's Hospital Colorado, in Aurora, Colo., where their son is recovering from bullet wounds, Sunday, July 22, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. Brent Lowak, 27, is one of six victims of the shootings at the Century Aurora 16 Cineplex being treated at the Children's Hospital Colorado. 12 people were killed and 58 were wounded early Friday morning while attending the opening of "The Dark Knight Rises." The suspected gunman was arrested at the scene shortly after the shootings. Brent was attending the film with close friend Jessica Ghawi, who was killed in the attack. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Zach Ornitz) TV, INTERNET AND MAGAZINES CALL FOR RATES AND TERMS

Larry Lowak, left, and Sue Greene, parents of Brent Lowak, speaks at the Children's Hospital Colorado, in Aurora, Colo., where their son is recovering from bullet wounds, Sunday, July 22, 2012 in Aurora, Colo.

As the family of Aurora, Colo., shooting victim Jessica Ghawi prepared for a Saturday memorial service in San Antonio, several individuals were working this week to raise money for a foundation that would benefit charities close to the aspiring sportscaster's heart.

By Thursday, $34,000 had been raised on the website Indiegogo.com for what probably will be called the Jessica Redfield Foundation, said Peter Burns, a Denver-based radio sportscaster and friend.

Ghawi, 24, was among the 12 moviegoers killed by a gunman in the Aurora theater shootings July 20.

At the time of her death, Ghawi, a big hockey fan, was in the midst of organizing a charity called “the little things” to collect sports equipment for Colorado families recouping from recent wildfires to give them “a sense of normalcy,” her mother, Sandy Phillips, said.

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She said the foundation would assist that effort as well as a children's cancer group.

“She was moved by people losing everything and having to start completely over,” Phillips said. Several other fundraising efforts were under way. Jason Harari, a musician and friend of Ghawi's, said he was organizing a musical benefit but had few details.

A memorial service has been set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Community Bible Church.

Meanwhile, employers of Brent Lowak, who was wounded in the attack, were helping his Bulverde family. Ghawi and Lowak were at the movie together to see “The Dark Knight Rises” when alleged gunman James Holmes opened fire in the theater. Mike Mason, owner of A First Class Limousine & Sedan Service, said he and several of Lowak's friends were organizing a barbecue fundraiser for Aug. 4 to be held outside the firm's office at 9504 N. Interstate 35. Plates will be on sale for $10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., he said. Information is available at 210-833-0011.

Contributions can be mailed to the fund at P.O. Box 310176, New Braunfels, TX 78131. The fund is also accepting PayPal donations at brentlowaksurvivorexpensefund@yahoo.com, Craig said.

eayala@express-news.net

Correction: The price of a plate of barbecue at the Aug. 4 fundraiser for Colorado theater shooting victim Brent Lowak will be $10. The price was incorrect in a story on Friday's page B1 of the Express-News and on mySA.com.